Gambian Auditor General ‘Forcibly Removed’ in Row with President

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA — The Gambia’s auditor general, Momodou Ceesay, was forcibly removed from his office by police after refusing to accept a new role as trade minister in a government reshuffle by President Adama Barrow.

Mr. Ceesay, who has served as auditor general for nearly three years, maintains that he declined the offer, despite the president’s office insisting he had initially agreed to the appointment.

The move has triggered public outrage, with many Gambians accusing the president of trying to undermine the independence of the national audit office by replacing Mr. Ceesay with a more compliant figure. The newly appointed auditor general, Cherno Amadou Sowe, has reportedly not taken up the post due to the public backlash.

On Monday, plain-clothes police officers were sent to the audit office to arrest Mr. Ceesay and install his successor. However, his staff confronted the officers, with footage of the standoff being broadcast live on social media. It was only after police reinforcements arrived that Mr. Ceesay was escorted from a press conference he was giving and taken to his lawyer’s office.

The incident has sparked a swift response from activists. A clip circulating online shows activist Kemo Fatty criticizing President Barrow’s actions, and threatening street protests. Mr. Fatty and another activist, Alieu Bah, were later arrested as they prepared to hold a press conference.

In a statement, the President’s office said the government was committed to “the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public finances.” It added that Mr. Ceesay’s new appointment was “based solely on his qualifications and experience,” with no intention to “interfere with the operations of the National Audit Office.”

The controversy comes as the Barrow administration faces increasing scrutiny following a local newspaper’s investigation alleging that assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh were distributed among the president’s close aides. President Barrow has denied any wrongdoing.